S. Korean official involved in U.S. base relocation being questioned

SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- An official at a South Korean government office
supporting the relocation of U.S. bases here is under questioning by prosecutors
over bribery suspicions, a defense department official said Thursday.
The official, identified only as "A" because the probe is still under way, is
suspected of attempting to arrange for the sale of land returned by the U.S.
military to a South Korean civilian constructor that he has allegedly received a
bribe from, Army Col. Oh Joo-suk said.
"'A' has been involved in the overall work of selling land that is being
restored," Oh, a MURO official, told reporters. MURO is short for MND USFK
Relocation Office. MND stands for South Korea's Ministry of National Defense and
USFK for U.S. Forces Korea.
State prosecutors, who said the bribe could range from 40 million (US$34,000) to
200 million won, raided MURO on Wednesday, seizing computer files and documents
handled by A and taking him into custody. A has denied the charges against him,
Oh said.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a deterrent against North Korea --
a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. As part of its global realignment program,
the U.S. military is working to move most of its frontline bases in South Korea
south of Seoul.
Since 2006, the MND has operated MURO to support the relocation and handle the
land returned by the U.S. military. Over 160 million square meters of land is to
be returned. Negotiations are under way on when the relocation will end.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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